Xnest



H. F. MARANVILLE.

NEsT.

APPLICATION `FILED FEB. 5.1916.

15320,'7'74.. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

l I 2 SHEETS- SHEET l.

H. F. MARANVILLE.

` Nasr. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 191e.

1,3205774. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.v

HARVEY F. IVIARANVILLE, OF AKRON, DI-IIO.

NEST'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. at, 1919.

Application led February 5, 1916. Serial No. 76,240.

T 0 all whom t may concern iBe it known that I, HARVEY F. MARAN- vILLE,a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county ofSummit and State of Ohio, have .invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Nests, of which the followino is a full,` clear, andexact description, refierence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to nests" for birds, particularly for hens nestsof the design to trap eggs therein for purposes of identification.ljrevious devices of this nature have frequently been crude inconstruction and have depended upon a swinging door which had to bepushed open against the inclination of the fowl, frequently frighteningit and rendering itaverse to the use of those nests. The object of thisinvention i-s to remedy this defect, and also to provide a sanitarynest, with improved devices for catching the eggs and allowing theescape of droppings. In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of aset| of the improved nests showing the dro-p or shutter closed in someinstances and open in others; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a nestwith the shutter open; F ig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view' of thenest on the line 3-*8 of Fig. 2; Figs. t and 5 vertical and horizontalsectional views of the nest on the lines l and 55 of Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and7 are details in section and perspective of supports for the nestbottom.

This preferred construction of improved nest consists of an openrectangular cabinet 1 having one side open as at 2 and having upon saidopen side a drawer 3 for the reception of the eggs. Mounted above thedrawer is a substantially horizontal tray 4, preferably of metalalthough wood is sufficient, the same being supported upon pivots 5 soas to tend to rock forward. lThe pivots 5 comprise lugs struck in fromchanneled plates 50 secured to the sides of the casing. The bottom ofthe. tray slopes downwardly from the sides to a central opening 6disposed over the said drawer.

Inside the open part of said casing, above said tray is a curved shutter10 made preferably in the form of a segment of a cylinder and having ateach end a radial arm 11 pivoted upon a suitable stud 12 projecting fromthe side of the casing substantially concentric with such cylindricalsurface. The rearward part of said shutter is bent down w'ardly as shownat 13 so as to be engaged by a catch 1a carried at the upper end of amovable rod 15 which is also connected to the tray i. The studs 12 arelocated at the rear of the center of gravity of the shutter so as tocause the shutter to fallby its own weight upon the release of thecatch, and the trais likewise pivoted at the rear of its center ofgravity so as to cause it to remain normally in forwardly inclinedposition with such catch in engagement, but to become rocked in theopposite direction by the weight of a fowl. The front of the shutter ispreferably cut away for a short distance as shown at 1G to afford a small ,amount of air and light to the interior and also to `permit the`attendant to learn the presence of the bird therein. The eggs fallthrough the opening G into the drawer 3 which is cushioned with a spunwire receiver 17 or the like to prevent breakage.

In order that the fowl may have a comfortable and sanitary nest, Ipreferably employ a cover for the tray Ll although the same is notlimited to use with nests of this nature. Said cover consists of arectangular wire frame work 20 resting in the tray and having loosely7aiiixed thereto a cloth covering 21, the center whereof is formed withthe opening' 22. The cloth is of a heavy nature and a close weave so asto resist destruction 'by the birds, and is soaked in a suitabledisinfectant orvermin-repelling material so as not only to prevent thenest from becoming infested, but also to drive away any which the fowlmay bring. Said cover is preferably reversible to permit longer usebefore cleaning.

The receiver 17 is of peculiar construction, and is adapted to catch theeggs while ermitting the droppings to fall through the same. Thereceiver is preferably made of woven wire and is a concave annulusaround a central opening 30, the edge of the receiver around saidopening being curved downwardly as shown to provide a blunt or roundededge. `In the central opening 30 is an ovoid cushion or member 32,preferably made of woven wire and projecting at its upper end above theplane of the margin of the opening 30. This cushion is mounted in asmall circular base ring 3B supported by cross wires 3ft which extendacross the bottom o'l the drawer 3 above an opening in the bottom ofsaid drawer.

When a fowl enters the nest and turns around therein as owls areaccustomed to do, its weight rocks the rear end of the tray downwardlyand releases the latch 14, and the shutter 10 drops by gravity and trapsthe fowl in the nest. Then an egg is laid, it falls through the openings`22 and 6 and striking on the cushion 32 is deflected, rolls into thereceiver 17, the space between the cushion and the margin of the openingbeing too small for an egg to drop through said opening. The droppingso'l the fowl, however, will fall upon said cushion and down through theopenings 30 and 35 to the ground or floor below the nests. Or anyparticles caught on the cushion device may be washed ott' or easilydislodged upon removal of the drawer.

It may be noted that the flanges 5l of the side pieces project into theline of movement of the tray 6, which by contact therewith is preventedfrom rocking beyond the distance necessary to engage or disengage thelatch 14 with the lip 13. Said latch is also inclined toward the frontof the shutter, so that when the shutter is lii'ted to reset the samethe latch will engage automatically.

This invention is not limited to the exact structure shown, but may beembodied in various structures within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a nest, abottom having an opening, and an egg receiver thereunder, said eggreceiver having an opening with a raised rim around the same, and aninclined cushion projecting above said rim, to guide eggs intothereceiver, and being spaced from said rim to allow the 'fall of droppingsthrough the last mentioned opening.

2. A nest having a bottom with an opening therein, a removable frameupon said bottom, and a fabric cover extending across said frame andhaving an opening registering with said opening, said cover beingnormally spacedalbove said bottom.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

HARVEY F. MARANVILLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

